Links


Latest News from the Methodist Church
https://www.methodist.org.uk/

Latest News on Justice and Public Issues
https://jpit.uk/

Questions on the Christian Faith
https://www.christianity.org.uk/

 

A Pastoral Message on facing Changing the Church - YouTube link
courtesy of our District Chair, Rev Rachel Parkinson

Methodist Church centrally provided resources - to help nourish your spiritual life on a daily and weekly basis

A Green Recovery - a call from Methodist Faith Leaders 

Justice for all - take a look at the Church's perspective on Justice in the light of recent events across the world…

(Links updated Saturday 18th January)

Please click on any of the links below, to go to...

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Please be aware that some of the links on this page may take you to external sites, and although they have been checked,
the Vale of Stour Circuit is not responsible for their contents.

CIRCUIT NEWS

The Vale of Stour Preaching Plan for the December 2024 to February 2025 quarter
can be found on the Links / Preaching Plans page here.

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Dear Circuit Family

This Saturday marks the beginning of the week of prayer for Christian Unity.   Churches Together in Britain and Ireland invites us to celebrate 1,700 years since the Council of Nicaea and the creation of the Nicene Creed.

Over the years of my ministry, I have often found myself sharing space with Christians who don’t quite seem to agree with each other or seem unhappy with something that I believe.   And I've wondered - am I the outlier?  Who knows? One example is a close friend of mine who is a Catholic Priest. There are some in the Protestant tradition who would find this kind of connection across the age-old divide unacceptable and it's true that as friends we have acknowledged that there are aspects of significant difference in our respective expressions of Christian faith. BUT we have always collectively acknowledged that if we can stand together and both say the Nicene creed - which captures the trinitarian core of our faith - then we can respect each other as Christians. 

To paraphrase Wesley who captures this perfectly: Even if we don't believe exactly the same, surely, we can love the same...  Our Christian action is the fulfilment of our faith.

May this week and our church lives in general, reflect a coming together around the common call to the greatest command - to love God and our Neighbour.

Every blessing.

Rev Alan and the Circuit Team

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New Superintendent for the Vale of Stour Circuit

Following the Stationing Visit on Saturday 16th November, we are pleased to confirm that Rev Jem Hawkins has been offered and accepted the position from September 2025. We are thrilled and delighted, and we look forward to sharing in his ministry with us. This appointment will now need to be ratified by Conference in June. Rev Jem knows the area well having been stationed in the Dudley and Netherton Circuit some years ago and most recently in the Hidden River Circuit (Walsall combined with Brownhills and Willenhall). Thank you to all the Circuit Invitation and CLT Reps for their work and support. Elaine Panchal and Jill Martin
 

Wesley Update

As you will be aware, not long ago we shared, with great sadness, the news of the closure of Wesley.  Last week the circuit meeting voted to accept trustee responsibility for the building. A number of folk have asked why these events happened so quickly?  Unfortunately, an extensive 'Roof Condition and Internal Cracking Report' - paid for by the circuit on behalf of Wesley - recommended a package of immediate and short term works with a number of items classed as 'of utmost urgency' and which included concerning statements about Health and Safety.   As a consequence of this the Methodist Insurance Risk Management Report expressed particular concern about the risk of falling debris.  In this context we had no choice but to take immediate action.  We continue to hold the Wesley Community in our prayers.
 

The Funeral of Michael Carless (New Road) will be held on Monday 27th January. There will be a short service at Stourbridge Crematorium at 2.10pm followed by a Church service at New Road at 3.00pm. All are welcome at both services.
 

Rev Alan’s Circuit leaving service has been arranged for Saturday 12th July at Kingswinford (originally the 13th ; please note change of date). There will be a tea from 4pm, followed by a Circuit Service at 6pm. Further details will be made available in due course.

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Café Praise will be taking place at Kingswinford Methodist Church on Sunday 19th January from 6pm. Led by ITL and Melanie Walters. All are welcome.
 

Taizé Service at Gig Mill

You are welcomed to a Taisé-style service of music, prayer and meditation, on Sunday 2nd February, at 6pm, at Stourbridge Methodist Church (Gig Mill). Tea, coffee and cakes will be available from 5pm before the service. All are welcome. A poster is here.
 

Amblecote Wordsley Methodist Church are now holding Foodbank Collections – Tuesdays from 1:30pm till 4pm.
 

Activities at Brierley Hill Methodist Church

Brierley Hill Methodist Church begin a weekly Men’s Fellowship Group, on Tuesdays from 2:00pm-3:30pm.  Initial activities are Chess, Dominoes, Local History or Current Affairs, Music, Poetry, Quizzes, Bible study and Bible meditation.  A leaflet is attached here with more information !  "All are welcome in this place."
 

Activities at The United Church Lye

First Tuesday of the month - 2-3 pm Tuesday Club, informal gathering with different activities each month. Cost is £2 : contact Jacqueline Hill for details 0780 1030844 or Elizabeth Long 07928 808772.

Third Tuesday - Discussion Group 7-8pm (very informal, Bible based) contact Revd Chris on 07708 750142

The Luncheon Club now meets each Friday at 11am, 3 course meal plus friendship all for £5. Contact Margaret Mullett on 07904 514764.

Events are open to all.
 

Friday afternoon Fellowship and Bible Study at Wesley

This group has been running for a while now and new members are always welcome.

We meet weekly at 1.30pm at Wesley Methodist Church, Mount Pleasant, Quarry Bank.
There is informal fellowship over a beverage, time to pray together, and discussion of a Bible passage.

If you are free on Friday afternoons and have a desire to know the Bible better, then we look forward to seeing you.
Just turn up or contact Martyn Filsak for more information.

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VOS Virtual Platform - Please Make Use of the Circuit Online Meeting Space - It's free, funded by the circuit...

Alongside VoSWorship, the Circuit Platform has been undergoing an update thanks to the CTC team and I encourage churches to use this FREE resource - funded by the circuit for online gatherings such as Bible Study, Prayer, Games Nights etc.  It's a fantastic and easy to use environment and there are many folk already trained across the circuit who can open a room for you to host your event / meeting.
 

God bless you all and may you know the sustaining presence of God in your lives.
 

Rev Alan Combes

ONLINE Service

We are no longer providing a weekly pre-recorded circuit service.  However, for anyone unable to attend church or access online services; we attach a full text version of a service for you to use at home.

We also recommend any of the following for those of you still unable to get to church :
 

ONLINE Service Live-streamed from Kinver.

This will be the first video (on the left) under UPLOADS > PLAY ALL at the following site :
https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCZnnIcxNLSP5VXyOGBeuxMA

The most recent online services are the other videos found on the same page.

The dates of all the Kinver services are shown beneath each video thumbnail.
 

Wesley's Chapel’s YouTube channel has a livestreamed service at 11am on Sundays and Morning Prayer services the rest of the week at 10am.
https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCUAUqhmhevz5sqhh72LIMxA
Again, this will be the first video (on the left) under HOME > Past live streams, and the most recent online services are the other videos found on the same page.

The dates of all the Wesley services are shown beneath each video thumbnail.
 

All previously archived live-streamed and recorded services can be found on the Circuit Website Virtual Player: 
https://www.valeofstour.org.uk/virtual-church/player
 

Order of Service
For anyone unable to attend or watch any services in person, this week's full Order of Service is here.
 

Coffee and a Chat

If you are interested in online coffee on a Sunday, please talk to any of the circuit staff and let us know what time would work for you and we can look at a time that would suit the majority of people.

Thanks to all those working in the background.

We look forward to seeing you on Sunday as we continue to pray for our communities, the church and ourselves.

God bless

Rev Alan and the Team


 

NEW LINKS

Ministers' and Preachers' Reflections, Sermons, and Orders of Service
~~updated~~

For earlier Worship Resources and Reflections, see the archive page here.